All American: Homecoming (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 11 - What Now? - full transcript

MAYBE WE
SHOULD JUST CALL IT A NIGHT

BEFORE ONE OF US SAYS SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN'T TAKE BACK.

LIKE WHAT?

THE FACT THAT MAYBE WE
SHOULDN'T BE TOGETHER ANYMORE?

I HAVEN'T
HEARD XAVIER'S NAME IN YEARS.

WE HAD AN AFFAIR.

I GOT PREGNANT.

DAMON...

I THINK YOU'RE THAT BABY.

NO.

THE MAN WHO RAISED
ME, WHO ADOPTED ME,



HE WOULDN'T HAVE LIED TO
MY FACE MY ENTIRE LIFE. NO.

I'M SORRY, BUT XAVIER IS
YOUR BIOLOGICAL FATHER.

YOU'RE OUR SON.

NO, MA. NO, NO.

BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE
DAMON AND I BROTHERS,

AND WE'RE NOT.

LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS HARD FOR BOTH
OF Y'ALL, BUT YOU JUST GOT TO...

NO. MA, LISTEN. WE
TOOK A DNA TEST.

WE'RE NOT BROTHERS.

YEAH. SO EITHER
THE DNA TEST IS WRONG,

OR YOU'RE WRONG, MS. RAYMOND.

SO WHICH ONE IS IT?

NEITHER.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW SICK YOU WERE AS A KID?



HAVING APLASTIC ANEMIA ISN'T
SOMETHING THAT YOU FORGET EASILY.

THE SURGERY WAS A BONE
MARROW TRANSPLANT.

MA, I KNOW.

OVER TIME, YOUR DNA...

MERGES WITH THE
DONOR'S, ESSENTIALLY...

CREATING A NEW ONE.

WHICH IS WHY
OUR DNA DIDN'T MATCH.

SO Y'ALL'S SHOULD.

SO Y'ALL TWO ARE THE ONES THAT
NEED TO TAKE THE DNA TEST.

IF ALL THIS IS TRUE,

WHY DID YOU GIVE ME UP?

THERE WERE A LOT OF REASONS,

BUT I SWEAR,

I ONLY DID WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS BEST FOR EVERYONE,

INCLUDING YOU.

BEST FOR ME?

BEING LIED TO

FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE,

NOT KNOWING WHO MY
BIRTH PARENTS WERE?

THAT'S WHAT WAS BEST FOR Y'ALL.

THAT WASN'T WHAT
WAS BEST FOR ME.

DAMON.

OK, THAT'S TIME.

TESTS TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

OOH. MY BAD. HEH.

HEY, WAS IT ME, OR WAS PROFESSOR
CORTE'S, LIKE, MIDTERM,

LIKE, CRAZY HARD?

IT'S JUST YOU.

I'M NOT TRYING TO
BRAG, BUT I KILLED IT.

VERY HUMBLE.

UH, SO HOW WAS YOUR FALL BREAK?

L.A. WAS GOOD?

YEAH.

IT WAS FINE.

DID I JUST WITNESS
ANOTHER EPISODE

OF "THE DA-MONE
AWKWARD CHRONICLES"?

DON'T START.

NATE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I WANTED TO CHECK ON YOU.

SINCE YOU GOT BACK,
YOU'VE BEEN LIKE

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

WELL, BETWEEN STUDYING FOR
MIDTERMS, WORK, AND PRACTICING

FOR THE PROFESSIONAL
QUALIFYING TENNIS TOURNAMENT,

I'VE BEEN BUSY.

SIMONE, THIS "I'M FINE
WITH THE BREAK-UP" ACT

ISN'T A GOOD LOOK.

WELL, I HAVE OTHER
THINGS TO FOCUS ON

OTHER THAN MY BREAK-UP, NATE.

WHEN NICO AND I SPLIT,

I THOUGHT I COULD JUST
GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS

AND THE PAIN WILL
GO AWAY ON ITS OWN.

BUT THAT AIN'T THE TRUTH.

LIFE IS LIKE A TAPE.

YOU CAN'T FAST-FORWARD
THROUGH THE HURT.

YOU HAVE TO LET THE TAPE PLAY,

OR THE BAD'S GONNA
KEEP ON REPEATING.

OK. WELL, THANK YOU FOR
THE ADVICE, BUT I'M FINE.

PINKY PROMISE.

ALL RIGHT. SEE
YOU ALL NEXT WEEK.

THAT WAS QUITE THE TURNOUT.

MY STUDENTS KNOW BETTER
THAN TO MISS MY MIDTERMS.

IF I RECALL, YOU HAD TO
LEARN THAT THE HARD WAY.

SEE, THAT WAS PAST RALPH.

WELL, WHAT BRINGS
PRESENT RALPH BACK?

I'M WRITING A STORY
ON TERRY TUCKER

AND THE P.E.D.
SCANDAL IN THE MAJORS,

AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE USEFUL

TO GET THE PERSPECTIVE
OF A FORMER TEAMMATE.

- YOU MEAN MARCUS.
- MM-HMM.

AND YOU THINK
BECAUSE I KNOW HIM,

I COULD TALK HIM INTO
GIVING YOU AN INTERVIEW.

WELL, IT'S HARDER FOR
THE SOURCE TO SAY NO

WHEN THE REQUEST COMES FROM
SOMEONE THAT THEY TRUST.

I TAUGHT YOU THAT
HAS IT WORKED?

SORRY. I MEAN, YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO SEEK HIM OUT

ALL BY YOURSELF.

ALL GOOD. IT WAS WORTH A SHOT.

THIS COULD'VE BEEN
A PHONE CALL, RALPH.

OH, I KNOW.

ALSO, I WANTED TO
STOP BY IN PERSON

AND GET AN UPDATE ON THE
BRINGSTON FINANCIAL STORY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE ONE.

I'VE BEEN DISTRACTED
BY VERONICA SKINNER.

NOT ONLY DID SHE
TRY TO GET ME FIRED,

BUT HER REASONS FOR BEING AT
BRINGSTON ARE A LITTLE SUSPECT.

OK, WELL, I GET IT.

BUT WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE MISSING MY MIDTERM?

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I RECEIVE THAT.

I NEED TO REFOCUS.

I'll PULL THE MINUTES FROM
THE LATEST BOARD MEETING.

MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING
IN THEM THAT'LL BE USEFUL.

OK. AMARA: OK.

OK.

AH!

WELL, YOU'RE GETTING BETTER
AT CONTROLLING YOUR FOREHAND.

YOUR ACCURACY'S ON POINT.

THANKS.

THEA, ARE WE OK?

YOU WERE KIND OF MAD AT
ME BEFORE FALL BREAK.

YEAH. UM...

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I WASN'T ACTUALLY MAD AT YOU.

I WAS JUST DEALING
WITH MY PTSD FROM KEVIN

AND TOOK IT OUT ON
YOU, BUT ALL GOOD NOW.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU FOR HOW
YOU HANDLED THAT SITUATION.

SO NOW YOU CAN FOCUS ON TENNIS

AND WHUPPING ASS TOMORROW AT
THE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT.

ACTUALLY, I'VE BEEN PLAYING
IN PRO TOURNAMENTS ALL SUMMER,

SO I QUALIFIED FOR THIS
TOURNAMENT MONTHS AGO.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO
DO GREAT. I KNOW IT.

THANK YOU.

OH, AND, UM, JUST
OPEN YOUR HIPS A PINCH

WHEN YOU'RE GOING CROSS-COURT.

IT'LL HELP YOU WITH YOUR DEPTH.

AND AN ADDED BONUS IS...

YOU MIGHT EVEN PUT SOME
POOR GIRL ON HER BUTT. HA!

HOLD ON.

YEAH?

COMPLIMENTS, ADVICE,
RED-CARPET SMILE?

YOU GOT SOME NEW
BOY IN YOUR ORBIT.

IS IT THAT OBVIOUS?

YES, IT'S "LOOK AT ME. I GOT
A BAE." BUT I'M NOT MAD AT IT.

IT'S A GOOD
YEAH.

SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA
TELL ME HIS NAME?

"MY COURTS ARE FOR TRAINING, NOT
SOCIALIZING. GET BACK TO IT,"

FROM COACH LONI.

WELL, SHE REALLY DOES
HAVE EYES EVERYWHERE.

ALL RIGHT.
MAKE WAY, BOYS. MAKE WAY.

WE GOT OURSELVES A LEGEND
COMING THROUGH, MAN.

YO, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL.
I AIN'T A LEGEND YET.

GIVE ME A FEW MORE GAMES,
THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

NAH, NO. WE WON THE GAME
BECAUSE OF YOU, MAN.

IF THAT PLAY WAS AN NFT,
YOU'D MAKE A FORTUNE.

THAT WAS THE
ABSOLUTE WORST BASEBALL

I EVER SEEN YOU PLAY.

DID YOU EVEN WANT TO
BE OUT THERE, DAMON?

COACH, I'M SORRY, ALL RIGHT? I
GOT A LOT OF PERSONAL STUFF...

NO EXCUSES, OK?

PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS

BEFORE IT RIDES THE PINE
THIS SEASON. YOU GOT ME?

COME ON, NOW.

WHAT'S UP?

HEY, CONGRATS ON THE WIN.

THANK YOU, BUT IT WASN'T
REALLY MY BEST GAME.

OH, SO YOU'RE AWARE. GREAT.

I THOUGHT I WAS
GONNA HAVE TO PRETEND

THAT YOUR PITCHING WASN'T AWFUL.

WELL, YOU WOULD ONLY KNOW
THAT IF YOU CAME TO MY GAME.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU WERE
SUCH A BIG DAMON SIMS FAN.

OH. SLOW DOWN, BIG GUY.

IT WASN'T ABOUT YOU.

I JUST LIKE THE UNIFORMS.

YEAH. I BET YOU DO.

YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE THAT?

NO. WHAT I NEED TO DO IS

I NEED TO TAKE YOU ON THAT DATE
THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO ON.

MM-HMM.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY
WE TRY FOR TONIGHT?

I'M IN.

ALL RIGHT. HA HA. COOL.

BUT, DAMON...

WHATEVER YOU'RE HIDING FROM,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
FACE IT SOONER OR LATER.

TERRY "TNT" TUCKER
HAS BEEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY

FROM PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR
USING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING...

YO, DIDN'T YOU PLAY WITH HIM?

YEAH. WHAT ABOUT IT?

I DON'T KNOW. IT
JUST MAKES ME WONDER

HOW MANY GUYS WE KNOW
THAT'S TAKEN THIS STUFF?

I GUESS WE'LL FIND
OUT IN DUE TIME.

THE TRUTH ALWAYS COMES OUT.

HA HA! HEY!

OUR BOY MADE PLAY OF THE DAY.

OHH, SNAP.

YO, BETWEEN OUR BOYS
PLAYING LIKE THEY PLAYING

AND THE HBCU BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS

AND NOW THIS EXTRA MEDIA
COVERAGE ON J.R.'S PLAY...

MAN, THE TRUSTEES WOULD BE BLIND

NOT TO SEE US AS A
CHAMPIONSHIP-CALIBER TEAM AGAIN.

YEAH. AS LONG AS WE DON'T
GET HIT WITH ANOTHER SCANDAL.

WHY WOULD WE? THERE'S
NOTHING SCANDALOUS LEFT.

YO, WHEN I SAID A DATE,

I MEANT, LIKE, LIKE
A MOVIE OR SOMETHING.

YEAH, I KNOW, BUT I
THOUGHT YOU NEEDED

SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE HEALING.

HEALING? THEA, WHERE
THE HELL ARE WE?

ATHLETE HEAVEN.

TIME FOR A LITTLE
PHYSICAL THERAPY,

THEA MAYS STYLE.

OK. TRY TO BREATHE THROUGH
IT, OK? STRAIGHTEN THIS UP.

IS THAT OK?

YEAH.

GOOD. YOU READY
FOR THE BEST PART?

OH, THERE'S A BEST PART?

OOH! OOH...

OOH, HOW... HOW IS
THIS THE BEST PART?

YO, HOW ARE YOU NOT COLD?

OH, I'M COLD.

I'M JUST NOT A BABY.

OH, OH.

OK. BUT I BET I LAST IN
HERE LONGER THAN YOU.

MM-MM. WHAT DO I WIN?

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I GET TO SHAVE YOUR LEGS.

HA HA. ALL RIGHT.

BET. BUT IF I WIN,

I GET TO TAKE YOU
ON A REAL DATE.

OH, THAT'S CUTE YOU THINK
YOU GOT A CHANCE TO WIN.

OH. HA HA!

HEY, MA, WHAT YOU DOING HERE?

I KNOW YOU SAID YOU
NEEDED SOME SPACE, BUT...

I GOT THE DNA TEST RESULTS BACK.

DAMON IS MY BIOLOGICAL SON.

DID YOU TELL HIM?

HE WON'T ANSWER MY CALLS.

WELL, COULD YOU BLAME HIM?

MA, YOU ABANDONED HIM.
HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?

BLENDED FAMILIES EXIST.

Y'ALL COULD'VE MADE IT WORK.

YOUR FATHER REFUSED TO
RAISE ANOTHER MAN'S CHILD.

AND THEN YOU GOT SICK.

AND WITH ALL THE TREATMENTS
AND THE BILLS ADDING UP...

SO YOU HAD TO DECIDE
BETWEEN KEEPING DAMON

OR TAKING CARE OF ME.

BABY, NO. THAT IS
NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.

ARE YOU SURE, MA? BECAUSE
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M HEARING.

AND THAT'S WHAT
DAMON'S GONNA HEAR.

I GOT TO GO. COACH TEXTED ME.

HEY, YOUNGBLOOD
IN THE SLICK SUIT.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

SORRY TO DISTURB YOU, BUT,
UH, IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT,

I WANTED TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT TERRY TUCKER.

YEAH. WHAT ABOUT HIM?

WELL, I'M DOING A STORY

ON THE RISE OF P.E.D.
USE IN THE MLB.

WHEN YOU TWO PLAYED
TOGETHER BACK IN '05,

DID HE EXHIBIT ANY
SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR?

I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING.

OK.

AND WAS THERE ANY INDICATION

OF OTHER PLAYERS ON THE
TEAM USING P.E.D.s AS WELL?

ONE BAD PLAYER, AND YOU
WANT TO CALL THE INTEGRITY

OF AN ENTIRE TEAM
INTO QUESTION, HUH?

COME ON, MARCUS.

TERRY COULDN'T HAVE
BEEN THE ONLY PLAYER

IN THAT LOCKER
ROOM PLAYING DIRTY.

LIKE I SAID, MAN,

I DIDN'T NOTICE
ANYTHING, ALL RIGHT?

REALLY? WAS IT MAYBE JUST
EASIER TO IGNORE WHAT YOU SAW?

ARE YOU DIGGING UP A QUOTE
ABOUT TERRY OR ABOUT ME?

LOOK, I KNOW YOU HAVE
A THING FOR AMARA,

BUT DO YOU THINK TAKING
ME DOWN IS THE BEST WAY

TO IMPRESS HER, MAN?

LISTEN, MY FEELINGS FOR AMARA

HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH YOU OR MY WORK.

SURE. LOOK, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS,

BUT MY ANSWER TO ALL
OF THEM IS NO COMMENT.

SO SEE YOURSELF OUT, RALPH.

MARCUS,
THIS IS DR. EPPS CALLING AGAIN.

THE PHARMACY SAID YOU STILL
HAVE NOT PICKED UP YOUR REFILL

FOR ARIPIPRAZOLE.

MARCUS, IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE

IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT DAILY...

I WANT TO
GRAB A JUICE BEFORE.

I'll SEE YOU OVER
THERE, ALL RIGHT?

OH. UH...

OH, I'M SORRY.

MY BAD. HEH.

UH, YOU GOOD?

I COULD ASK YOU
THE SAME QUESTION.

I HEARD ABOUT THE GAME.

YEAH. WE... WE WON.

DESPITE YOUR PITCHING.
WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?

I JUST HAD ONE BAD
GAME. THAT'S IT.

WHY DO I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LYING?

I DON'T KNOW.

HI. SORRY. I
DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.

HI, SIMONE. HEY, D., I'M
GONNA GRAB US A TABLE.

ALL RIGHT. I'll SEE
YOU IN A SECOND.

OK.

SINCE WHEN DID YOU
TWO BECOME BESTIES?

ALL RIGHT. I'll SEE
YOU AROUND, ALL RIGHT?

CHOCOLATE WITH, LIKE...

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU.

- HEY, AUNTIE!
- DON'T "HEY, AUNTIE" ME.

WHY HAVEN'T I SEEN YOU SINCE
YOU'VE BEEN BACK FROM L.A.?

WHY DO YOU LOOK SO EXHAUSTED?

AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WHY DID PROFESSOR CORTE

JUST GIVE ME A HEADS-UP THAT YOU'RE
GETTING A "C" ON YOUR MIDTERM?

THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT.

AUNTIE, I'M ALL As IN HIS CLASS.

WHICH IS WHY HE'S CONCERNED.

OK. WELL, I GUESS BALANCING
STUDYING, WORK, AND TENNIS

IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT,

BUT EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE
AFTER THE MATCH TOMORROW.

THAT WAS NICE AND REHEARSED.

OK, I'll DIG. WHAT
HAPPENED IN L.A.?

BECAUSE I'M GUESSING THIS
ALL HAS TO DO WITH THAT.

JORDAN AND I BROKE UP.

SIMONE, I AM SO SORRY.

I'M FINE. SERIOUSLY.

JORDAN WAS A MAJOR
PART OF YOUR LIFE.

PRETENDING THAT LOSING HIM
IS JUST ANOTHER TUESDAY

ISN'T HELPING.

I HEAR YOU, BUT I'M
GOOD. I PROMISE.

I NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING
MY AMERICAN LIT GRADE UP,

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU THINK PROFESSOR CORTE
WILL GIVE ME ANOTHER SHOT?

I DON'T KNOW, BABY
GIRL. IT'S WORTH ASKING.

MM-HMM.

HEY, JUST KNOW IT'S OK

NOT TO BE OK.

AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF
IN THAT PLACE, I'M HERE.

GLAD YOU COULD
FINALLY MAKE IT, SON.

SORRY, COACH. MY MOM STOPPED BY.

ACTUALLY, CAN I GET YOUR
ADVICE ON SOMETHING?

OH, I GET IT. NOW THAT
YOU'VE MADE PLAY OF THE DAY,

YOU BIG-TIME NOW, HUH?

HUH? YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT
OTHER PEOPLE'S SCHEDULES, SON?

COACH, THAT'S NOT
TRUE. NOT AT ALL.

SURE, EVERYBODY BEEN
HITTING ME UP ABOUT IT,

BUT I THOUGHT YOU'D BE HAPPY
FOR ME. IT'S GOOD PRESS, RIGHT?

WRONG. BRINGSTON DOESN'T NEED
ANY MORE PRESS RIGHT NOW, SON.

SINCE WHEN? WASN'T THE
HBCU BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS

ABOUT MEDIA ATTENTION?

COACH, THIS IS A
GOOD LOOK FOR ME.

LOOK, EVERYTHING ISN'T
ABOUT YOU, J.R. ALL RIGHT?

IF THEY'RE PUTTING
THE FOCUS ON YOU,

IT'LL COME AT THE
COST OF SOMEONE ELSE.

OUR HOMECOMING GAME
AGAINST HAWKINS IS

THE END-ALL, BE-ALL FOR US.

AND IF WE DON'T FOCUS
ON THAT, WE'RE FINISHED.

NOW, DO YOU WANT TO
BE THE REASON THAT

BRINGSTON BASEBALL DOESN'T
MAKE IT TO THE SPRING, HMM?

I NEED YOU TO FOCUS ON THE TEAM.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME? DO
YOU UNDERSTAND ME, SON?!

HMM? I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.

YES, SIR. I GET IT.

YEAH.

SO I'VE BEEN
OVER THE MINUTES

FROM ALL THE FINANCIAL MEETINGS.

REMEMBER THE TRUSTEE I
WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT?

UH, VERONICA SOMETHING.

SKINNER. RIGHT.

WELL, SHE'S ALL
OVER THESE MINUTES.

WHY IS THAT STRANGE?
SHE'S A BOARD MEMBER.

A NEW INTERIM BOARD MEMBER.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN
TAKE A SECOND TO GET

THE LAY OF THE LAND.

SHE JUST JUMPED IN, DAY ONE,

PUSHING TO INCREASE FUNDING

IN THE ENGINEERING AND
LIBERAL ARTS DEPARTMENTS.

AND THEY SEEM TO BE
LISTENING TO HER.

HEY. WAIT. IF BRINGSTON IS
HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS,

WHY ARE THEY GIVING ANY
EXTRA MONEY TO ANY PROGRAMS?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M STARTING
TO THINK MY FINANCIAL STORY

AND WHATEVER VERONICA
IS DOING AT BRINGSTON

ARE ONE AND THE SAME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY
SOURCES CLOSE TO HER?

ONE... HER SISTER.

GREAT. SO WORK YOUR AMARA MAGIC

AND THEN BREAK THE STORY.

HUH. GOING TO BE A
LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED

THAN THAT, RALPH, BUT
I'M FIGURING IT OUT.

SO I ENDED UP
SPEAKING WITH MARCUS.

OK. HOW DID IT GO?

SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH HIM.

HE GOT PRETTY
AGGRESSIVE WITH ME.

AGGRESSIVE? MARCUS TURNER?

I'M SURE YOU'RE
MISREADING THE SITUATION.

YEAH. TRUST ME. I'M NOT.

LOOK, RALPH...

JUST BECAUSE I STOPPED PURSUING
SOMETHING ROMANTIC WITH YOU

DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO TAKE...

WHAT IS IT WITH YOU TWO?

LOOK. I'M A GROWN-ASS MAN THAT
CAN HANDLE REJECTION JUST FINE,

BUT I'VE GOT TWO EYES.

AND WHAT I SAW, IT WASN'T RIGHT.

IF I WAS YOU, I WOULD...

I WOULD GIVE HIM SOME SPACE.

I SHOULD GO.

IS IT ME

OR DOES IT FEEL LIKE WE'RE
IN A CHEESY ROMANTIC NOVEL?

UHH, I'M GONNA NEED YOU
TO RETRACT YOUR SHADE.

I LOVE ROMANCE NOVELS.

THEA, NO, YOU DON'T.

NO, YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY'RE
CORNY AND UNREALISTIC,

AT LEAST SO I'VE HEARD.

I DO LOVE THIS, THOUGH.

IT'S BEEN THE BEST NIGHT.

YEAH.

UH, IT REALLY HAS.

YO, DAMON...

OH, DAMN. I DIDN'T MEAN...

YEAH, WELL, YOU DID, ALL RIGHT?

WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?

DNA RESULTS CAME IN.

LOOK, IT'S COOL. I
ALREADY FILLED HER IN.

SHE'S YOUR MOTHER.

WE'RE HALF-BROTHERS, MAN.

LOOK, I KNOW THIS MAY BE HARD,

BUT IGNORING OUR MOTHER ISN'T
GONNA MAKE IT ANY EASIER.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THE
DNA TEST SAYS, ALL RIGHT?

SHE'S NEVER GONNA BE MY MOTHER.

ALL RIGHT? SHE GAVE ME UP
WITHOUT EVEN A SECOND THOUGHT.

OK, D., I HEAR THAT. I DO.

BUT WHAT ABOUT US?

OH, SO GHOSTING ME
HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL.

SAY IT, DAMON. SAY IT.

LOOK, YOU WERE SICK, ALL RIGHT,

AND SHE TOOK CARE OF
YOU AND GOT RID OF ME.

YOU'RE LITERALLY THE CHOSEN SON.

OK, DAMON, IF I
COULD CHANGE IT, I WOULD.

YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T.

AND SO NOW EVERY TIME
THAT I LOOK AT YOU,

I AM REMINDED THAT
IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT

TO TAKE CARE OF J.R.
THAN IT WAS TO KEEP ME.

UNDERSTOOD.

UM, HEH, UM, I'M
SORRY ABOUT THIS,

ALL THIS FAMILY DRAMA.

THAT IS NOT HOW I
WANTED OUR DATE TO END.

YOU DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.

YEAH. AND J.R.
DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.

WAIT. HIS MOM
LITERALLY GAVE ME AWAY.

YEAH. SHE DID, NOT HIM.

NEITHER OF YOU ASKED FOR THIS.

LOOK, I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU'RE HURT

AND YOU NEED TO DO
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU,

SO TALK TO YOUR
BIRTH MOM OR DON'T.

BUT BURNING YOUR
NEWFOUND BROTHER,

WHO'S BEEN YOUR BEST
FRIEND SINCE YOU GOT HERE,

WON'T DO YOU, NOR HIM, ANY GOOD.

- HEY.
- OH!

JESSIE RAYMOND, THAT HAIR!

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN
MY CHAIR EVERY TWO WEEKS.

YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY NOT HERE FOR
A HAIRCUT. I'M HERE TO TALK.

OH, UH, SORRY. I WISH I COULD,

BUT I GOT A BIG TOURNAMENT.

WELL, I WAS HERE
TO TALK TO NATE,

BUT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT LOOK
LIKE YOU NEED A VENT SESSION.

YOU GOOD?

SIMONE, YOUR FACE IS CALLING.
IT NEEDS YOU TO PICK IT UP.

WHATEVER. IS THIS ABOUT DAMON?

I GOT THIS.

YOU GO HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS
ON THE COURTS, MISSY.

BRING HOME SOMETHING
SHINY FOR THE ROOM

SINCE YOU HAVE YET TO ADD
ANYTHING TO THE DECOR.

SINCE YOU'RE HERE, I MIGHT
AS WELL GET YOU RIGHT.

MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW, I FOUND OUT DAMON
IS MY BIOLOGICAL BROTHER.

OOH. THAT WAS NOT
ON MY BINGO CARD.

YOU TWO MUST BE THRILLED.

ACTUALLY, NOW HE WANT
NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

I JUST... I FEEL LIKE MY ILLNESS

ALWAYS TAKES THINGS FROM ME.

FIRST MY BROTHER, BASEBALL.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THE BROTHER PART,

BUT LOOK AT THE VIEWS
YOUR VIDEO'S GOTTEN.

PEEP THE COMMENTS.

IF THEY AREN'T TALKING ABOUT
WHICH MLB TEAM YOU'RE GONNA BE ON,

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHO'S GONNA DATE YOU.

HA HA. SO I WOULD SAY
NO ONE AND NOTHING

IS EVER TAKING
BASEBALL FROM YOU.

I DON'T KNOW. MY COACH IS SAYING
I'M TAKING TOO MUCH ATTENTION

AWAY FROM THE TEAM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE,
IS THAT WHO I AM?

DO PEOPLE GET KICKED TO
THE CURB BECAUSE OF ME?

NOW, YOU LISTEN TO ME.

YOU CANNOT BLAME YOURSELF FOR
THE CHOICES YOUR MOTHER MADE.

YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE SICK.

DAMON WILL SEE THAT.

AS FAR AS YOUR COACH, DON'T
LET HIM STEAL THIS MOMENT

BECAUSE YOU EARNED IT
ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

YEAH.

MATTER OF FACT, I'M GONNA WORK WITH
YOU AS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T
MISS THIS MOMENT.

IS ALL THIS FOR REAL?

I KNOW YOU'LL NEVER
BE ABLE TO FORGIVE ME,

BUT I DO LOVE YOU.

AND I'M HERE IF AND
WHEN YOU'RE READY

TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

YOU LOVE ME?

YES.

BUT HOW? YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

FOR 18 YEARS, YOU KNEW
THAT I WAS OUT THERE

AND YOU NEVER BOTHERED
TO CONTACT ME.

NO PHONE CALLS ON CHRISTMAS,
NO BIRTHDAY CARDS OR NOTHING.

BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT XAVIER WANTED.

MY DAD WANTED TO KEEP
YOU AWAY FROM ME?

HE HAD JUST MARRIED YOUR MOM

WHEN I CALLED TO
TELL HIM ABOUT YOU.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HER.

I AGREED TO STAY AWAY.

SO NOT ONLY DID MY DAD LIE
TO ME MY ENTIRE LIFE...

BUT HE KEPT MY BIRTH
MOTHER AWAY FROM ME

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO
OWN UP TO HIS MISTAKES.

DAMON.

NO. NO, NO. I GOT TO GO.

I'M SORRY.

WOW. YOU CAN SEE
THE DUNNETT FROM HERE.

YEAH. I WAS FORTUNATE
TO FIND THIS PLACE.

FORTUNATE? GIRL, I AM
SURE YOU EARNED IT.

THAT WAS ALWAYS YOUR M.O.

I THINK YOUR SISTER VERONICA
WOULD BEG TO DIFFER.

LOOK, JADA, I'M SORRY

FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN COLLEGE.

YOU GOT CAUGHT UP
IN MY ACTIVISM WAKE,

AND I GOT YOU SUSPENDED.

STOP. I GOT MYSELF SUSPENDED.

YOU DIDN'T MAKE ME
DO ANYTHING THAT

I WASN'T GONNA
ALREADY DO ANYWAY.

SOMETIMES TROUBLE'S
THE PRICE YOU PAY

FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.

BUT THEN IF YOU
TRULY DON'T BLAME ME,

WHY IS VERONICA HERE AT
BRINGSTON WITH A VENDETTA?

SHE TRIED TO HAVE ME FIRED.

I AM SO SORRY THAT SHE
HAS BEEN COMING AFTER YOU.

AND NOW SHE'S MEDDLING
IN BRINGSTON'S FINANCES.

IS THAT SOMEHOW ABOUT ME, TOO?

VERONICA DOESN'T MIX PERSONAL
WITH BUSINESS LIKE THAT.

AND BRINGSTON ISN'T THE ONLY
BOARD THAT SHE'S A PART OF.

WHAT OTHER BOARD IS SHE ON?

WILLIS COBB. IT'S A...

PWI IN MARIETTA.

YES. THEY'RE HAVING MONEY
TROUBLES JUST LIKE BRINGSTON.

SHE'S HELPING THEM GET THEIR
FINANCES IN ORDER, TOO.

THIS IS WHAT SHE DOES
FOR A LIVING, AMARA.

SHE'S GOOD AT IT.

SO YOU'RE SAYING
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT

VERONICA IS HERE
TO HELP BRINGSTON?

I WOULDN'T GO THAT FAR.

WHEREVER VERONICA GOES,
WHOEVER SHE "HELPS"

ENDS UP SOLD.

GIRL, YOU WON.

YOU QUALIFIED FOR YOUR
FIRST PRO TOURNAMENT.

HOW ARE YOU NOT
SCREAMING RIGHT NOW?

I AM EXCITED. I'M JUST TIRED.

NAH, YOU
GOT TO GET IT TOGETHER, GIRL.

WE ARE GOING OUT TO
CELEBRATE RIGHT NOW.

BECCA...

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WANT
TO CALL YOUR BOYFRIEND

AND CELEBRATE WITH HIM FIRST,

BUT YOU GOT 20 MINUTES WITH
HIM AND THEN WE ARE GOING OUT.

TELL JORDAN I SAID WHAT'S UP.

HEY, HEY. DON'T.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

OH, HOW...
HOW CAN I HELP?

SIMONE.

NO.

DAMON, I'M FINE. YOU CAN GO.

HEY, YOU ARE NOT
FINE, ALL RIGHT?

YOU'RE A WORSE LIAR THAN ME.

I'M GOING THROUGH
SOME STUFF RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M HAVING A REALLY HARD
TIME HANDLING IT ON MY OWN.

BUT I CAN'T TALK
TO YOU ABOUT IT.

HEY, LOOK, LOOK, I KNOW THAT

THINGS HAVE BEEN
WEIRD BETWEEN US

SINCE WE GOT BACK FROM CHICAGO,

AND I KNOW THAT I
CROSSED THE LINE

AND I NEED TO RESPECT THE BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN YOU AND JORDAN. I...

DAMON, I CANNOT TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THIS.

PLEASE JUST LEAVE.

SIMONE, WE CAN'T SUPPORT
EACH OTHER ANYMORE?

COME ON. IS THIS WHO
WE REALLY ARE NOW?

YES. AND I NEED YOU TO FIGURE
YOURSELF OUT WITHOUT ME,

AND I NEED TO TAKE CARE
OF MYSELF WITHOUT YOU.

AND SWEET.

PERF. OK.

THE BODY IS BODYING.
THIS IS GREAT!

I CAN GET 3 YARD YAK VIDEOS
OFF THIS ONE WORKOUT.

I APPRECIATE YOU HELPING
ME OUT WITH EVERYTHING.

I MEANT IT WHEN I SAID YOU HAVE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MOMENT.

JUST DON'T FORGET MY 10% WHEN YOU
GET THAT FIRST PRO BALLER CHECK.

HEY! ARE YOU HARD OF HEARING
OR JUST PLAIN STUPID?

NOW, I TOLD YOU TO
FOCUS ON BASEBALL

AND LET GO OF THIS
SOCIAL MEDIA CRAP, J.R.

I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER
DAMON SIMS ON THIS TEAM!

YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER
DAMON SIMS ON THIS TEAM.

YOU GOT A JESSIE RAYMOND JR.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, COACH?
I'M NOT GONNA APOLOGIZE

FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH OR WHO I AM.

I'M NOT BREAKING
ANY SCHOOL RULES.

SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO GET
USED TO SEEING MY NAME TRENDING.

YEAH. THEY'RE
ALL LOOKING AT YOU

BECAUSE YOU WERE
DOING A LOT JUST NOW.

RESPECTFULLY.

SO ARE YOU GOING TO SAY IT?

YOU WERE RIGHT.

AND REMIND ME WHICH
THING I WAS RIGHT ABOUT

'CAUSE I'M RIGHT ABOUT
ALMOST EVERYTHING.

I LASHED OUT BECAUSE I WAS HURT,

BUT YOU MADE ME REALIZE THAT I

CAN'T HURT MY
FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

NOT WHEN I NEED THEM THE MOST.

WELL, LOOK AT THAT.

AN ATHLETE LEARNING
SOMETHING USEFUL IN COLLEGE.

YEAH. AND, LIKE, YOU HELPED
GIVE ME THE WAKE-UP CALL

THAT I NEEDED TO
TALK TO MY BIRTH MOM.

HOW DID THAT GO?

IT WAS HARD. AND LEARNING
THAT MY DAD HAD A PART IN IT

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING JUST...

BUT, LIKE, JUST BEING AROUND
YOU THESE PAST FEW DAYS,

I MEAN, YOU REALLY
HELD ME TOGETHER.

AND IT'S COOL 'CAUSE, LIKE,

YOU AND ME, WE'RE NOT
COMPLICATED OR MESSY.

IT JUST FEELS RIGHT.

YEAH.

AND I WANT TO GIVE THIS A SHOT.

LIKE, A REAL SHOT.

AS IN US BEING, LIKE, A COUPLE?

YES. HEH!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WELL...

WOW. IT'S LIKE THAT?

NO. I... I WOULD LIKE THAT, TOO.

ALL RIGHT. UM, I'll
CALL YOU LATER.

YEAH. YOU BETTER.

- HEY.
- HI.

YOU KNOW THAT BLACK
SCARF I LET YOU BORROW?

- YEAH.
- I'MMA NEED IT BACK.

OH, OK.

WHAT'S THE OCCASION?

OH, SIMONE AND JORDAN BROKE UP,

AND NOW SHE'S READY
TO DEAL WITH IT.

HMM. THAT STILL DOESN'T
EXPLAIN THE SCARF,

BUT, WHATEVER, YOU DO YOU.

THANK
YEAH.

YO.

UH, LOOK, UM, UM, I OWE
YOU AN APOLOGY, MAN,

FOR HOW I'VE BEEN ACTING LATELY.

IT'S ALL JUST BEEN A
LITTLE MUCH, YOU KNOW?

YEAH. LIFE'S BEEN HEAVY.

YEAH.

I SAT DOWN WITH CELINE, MAN.

AND?

LOOK, I'M NOT READY TO TAKE
IT TO THE NEXT STEP WITH HER.

BUT EVEN THOUGH I'M
NOT SURE ABOUT HER,

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I'M READY
TO GET TO KNOW MY LITTLE BROTHER.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE DONE SAID
THESE WORDS TO EACH OTHER BEFORE.

SOMEHOW WE KEEP ENDING
UP IN THIS SAME SPOT.

YEAH, BUT, J., THIS TIME
IT'S DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

ALL THE SECRETS ARE OUT, MAN.

WE ARE FAMILY, AND I'MMA
ALWAYS HAVE MY BROTHER'S BACK.

BOY, YOU SOMETHING ELSE.

SO MR. PLAY OF THE DAY.

SO NOW THAT WE
OFFICIALLY BROTHERS,

DO I GET, LIKE, A
FAMILY DISCOUNT,

OR DO I GOT TO PAY FULL
PRICE FOR MY AUTOGRAPH?

NATHANIEL'S HELPING ME
TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL,

BUT THAT'S IF COACH
WILL STILL LET ME PLAY.

WAIT. HOLD UP. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE YELLED AT ME YESTERDAY
FOR GOING VIRAL,

LIKE, OUT OF NOWHERE,

ALMOST LIKE COACH
WASN'T HISSELF.

WAIT. YOU, TOO?

HE CHEWED ME OUT FOR
NOT BEING ON MY GAME.

HE DIDN'T EVEN ASK WHAT
WAS UP OR ANYTHING.

YOU THINK SOMETHING'S
WRONG WITH HIM?

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

I THINK I KNOW
SOMEBODY THAT WOULD.

WHEN DID YOU FIND
TIME TO DIG THIS HOLE?

DON'T ASK QUESTIONS TO THINGS

YOU DON'T WANT THE ANSWER TO.

DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE
GATHERED HERE TODAY

NOT TO MOURN THE LOSS
OF SIMONE'S FIRST LOVE

BUT TO CELEBRATE WHAT IT WAS.

THESE WERE...

THEY WERE SOME OF THE
BEST DAYS I'VE EVER HAD.

BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE

OTHER BEST DAYS TO COME, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, SIMONE.

THIS IS YOUR GRADUATION,

OUR ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION...

WOW. I KNOW THEY
SAY IT'S BAD LUCK

TO SEE A BRIDE IN HER
DRESS ON THE WEDDING DAY,

BUT I CAN'T STOP STARING AT YOU.

THIS IS, UM, THE ONLY
COPY OF OUR WEDDING PHOTO

THAT I HAVE.

I FELT SO LOVED ON THAT DAY.

I JUST HOPE I NEVER
FORGET THAT FEELING.

YOU WILL HAVE THIS
FEELING AGAIN.

IT'S OK.

SO RELEASE.

MAY THE MEMORIES OF OUR LOVE...

CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR THESE
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS TO GROW.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'M SURE IT WAS.

I'M SO PROUD OF
YOU FOR LETTING THE TAPE PLAY.

BUT BETWEEN YOU AND
J.R., I'M EXHAUSTED.

SO UNLESS YOU ALL
PAYING ME BY THE HOUR,

I'll BE STEPPING AWAY FROM MY
THERAPIST DUTIES FOR THE NIGHT.

STOP. HA
OH. OH?

- HEY.
- OH, HEY.

SORRY TO POP UP LIKE THIS.

WE JUST REALLY NEEDED
TO TALK TO YOU.

OK.

UH, ACTUALLY, UH,

NOW IS MAYBE NOT A GOOD TIME.

NO, IT'S FINE.
WE WERE JUST LEAVING.

NO, WE CAN... WE
CAN JUST HEAD OUT. IT'S OK.

UH-UH. NOW, I DON'T KNOW

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, BUT
LEAVE IT IN THE HALLWAY.

IN HERE, WE ARE FAMILY. GOT IT?

NOW, IF NO ONE MURDERED
ANYONE, GO WASH YOUR HANDS.

DINNER ISN'T GONNA COOK ITSELF.

HELLO?

IT'S
Y'ALL'S TURN TO COOK.

AH AH AH.
WHERE YOU GOING?

YEAH.

AREN'T COACHES
SUPPOSED TO YELL?

YEAH, BUT THIS TIME, IT
FELT DIFFERENT, ALL RIGHT?

LIKE, HE CAME AND JUST
TOLD ME THAT I SUCKED.

HE DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO MAKE
ME BETTER OR ANYTHING.

THAT'S NOT HIM.

OK. HE JUST WANTS
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

SOMETIMES THAT MEANS FIGURING
THINGS OUT FOR YOURSELF.

YEAH, BUT WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION

FOR HOW HE WENT OFF ON ME?

I'M TRYING TO TELL
YOU, COACH IS BUGGING.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT
BEING JUST A LITTLE DRAMATIC?

THEY'RE NOT
THE ONES BEING DRAMATIC.

I TOLD
YOU TO FOCUS ON BASEBALL

AND LET GO OF THIS
SOCIAL MEDIA CRAP, J.R.

NOW, I DO NOT NEED ANOTHER
DAMON SIMS ON THIS TEAM!

OK, Y'ALL JUST
GO AHEAD AND EAT.

I'll GO CHECK ON MARCUS.

HEY. IS EVERYTHING OK?

YOU TELL ME. I'M NOT THE ONE

SENDING REPORTERS
SNOOPING AROUND MY OFFICE.

MARCUS, I DIDN'T
INTEND FOR ANYTHING...

DID HE HAVE TO PAY
YOU TO SELL ME OUT,

OR DID HE GET THAT FOR FREE?

LOOK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH YOU, MARCUS,

BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

LET ME HELP YOU.

NO! I DON'T NEED
YOUR DAMN HELP, OK?!

I NEVER DID.

UM...

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

DEAR GOD.

THIS AMOUNT OF SECOND-HAND
AWKWARDNESS CANNOT BE HEALTHY.

WHAT YOU DOING?

YEAH. WHAT'S WITH ALL
THESE ARTICLES ABOUT

WILLIS COBB UNIVERSITY?

NO CLUE. BUT MY HOMEGIRL
JUST TRANSFERRED FROM THERE,

AND SHE'S PISSED.

THEY AXED THE
ENGINEERING PROGRAM

AND CUT THE FUNDING
TO THE LIBERAL ARTS.

SHE'S AN ENGINEERING AND
ENGLISH DOUBLE MAJOR.

THAT'S WEIRD BECAUSE ONE OF
MY FRAT BROTHERS GO THERE,

AND HE SAID THEY'RE BUILDING
A NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL.

HE SAID THE OLD
BUILDING WAS FINE.

THEY JUST GOT THAT BAG, AND THEY
GOT TO FIND A WAY TO SPEND IT.

SO WAIT. THEY'RE CUTTING FUNDS
FROM TWO MAJOR DEPARTMENTS

BUT HAVE ENOUGH TO
REBUILD SOMETHING

THAT DOESN'T NEED REBUILDING?

THAT'S HELLA WEIRD.

YES, IT IS.

Y'ALL SHOULD GET GOING.

I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

RALPH, I KNOW IT'S
LATE, BUT I'VE GOT IT.

WILLIS COBB IS CUTTING
ENGINEERING AND LIBERAL ARTS,

BUT BRINGSTON IS ADDING
FUNDING TO THOSE PROGRAMS.

ALL THE PROGRAMS
BRINGSTON IS CUTTING

WILLIS COBB IS ADDING
FUNDING TO AND VICE VERSA.

RALPH, BRINGSTON
ISN'T BEING SOLD.

IT'S GOING TO MERGE WITH THIS
PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTION,

WHICH MEANS IT WON'T
BE BRINGSTON ANYMORE.

GREG, MOVE YOUR HEAD.